Parenting a child on the autism spectrum comes with unique challenges and opportunities for growth. If you’re exploring ways to help your child succeed, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy offers proven strategies to build skills and reduce challenging behaviors. At Kiwi Kids ABA, we understand the importance of empowering parents with tools they can use to support their child’s progress—not just during therapy sessions but in everyday life. Below, we’ll explore 15 ABA therapy techniques that are not only effective but also adaptable for you to use with your children after their therapy time is over. These techniques are designed to create a supportive environment where your child can grow, learn, and succeed.
Positive reinforcement involves rewarding a desired behavior to encourage its repetition. For example, if your child completes a chore, you might reward them with extra screen time or a favorite treat. Even simple gestures like a high-five or enthusiastic praise—”Great job cleaning up your toys!”—can go a long way. Over time, positive reinforcement helps your child associate good behavior with positive outcomes, making it more likely to recur.
DTT is a structured teaching method that breaks down complex skills into smaller steps. For instance, teaching your child to recognize shapes might begin with a single instruction like, “Show me the circle.” If they answer correctly, they’re immediately praised or rewarded. By repeating these steps and gradually increasing difficulty, children master skills in a focused way. This approach works well for early learning tasks, such as identifying letters, numbers, or colors.
NET incorporates learning into everyday activities, making it feel more organic and less like formal instruction. For example, during a trip to the grocery store, you can practice counting items in the cart or identifying fruits and vegetables. NET works especially well for social skills, such as encouraging your child to greet a neighbor or request an item while shopping.
Complex activities, like tying shoelaces, are broken into smaller, teachable steps through task analysis. Once the steps are identified, chaining is used to teach them sequentially. For instance, you might first teach your child to hold the laces, then form a loop, and so on. Reinforce each step along the way to build confidence and independence.
Prompts guide your child toward the correct behavior. For example, if you’re teaching your child to say “thank you,” you might initially provide a verbal prompt like, “What do we say after receiving a gift?” Over time, prompts are reduced (or faded) so your child can perform the task independently. Other types of prompts include physical assistance (like guiding their hand) or visual cues, such as pointing to an object.
Shaping helps teach new behaviors by rewarding small steps toward the desired action. If your child is learning to use words, you might reinforce attempts like “wa” for water and gradually encourage clearer pronunciation over time. This method ensures progress without overwhelming your child with unrealistic expectations at the start.
Children often learn by observing others. Modeling involves demonstrating the desired behavior so your child can imitate it. For example, if you’re teaching how to wave goodbye, you might wave and say, “Goodbye!” while encouraging your child to mimic the motion. Modeling can also be used for more complex skills, such as taking turns in a board game or initiating a conversation.
Initially, frequent reinforcement (e.g., giving praise or rewards every time a behavior occurs) is used to establish a new skill. Over time, the schedule shifts to intermittent reinforcement, where rewards are given less predictably. For example, you might reward your child for cleaning their room every third time instead of every time, which helps maintain the behavior over the long term.
This technique builds motivation by starting with easy, preferred tasks before moving to more challenging ones. For instance, if your child enjoys stacking blocks, you might begin a session with that activity before transitioning to practicing less preferred skills like writing letters. The confidence gained from completing simple tasks helps them tackle harder ones.
Generalization ensures that skills learned in therapy apply across different settings, people, and materials. For example, if your child learns to say “hello” to their therapist, practice this skill with family members, friends, or even a cashier at the store. Reinforcing skills in varied environments helps your child understand their broader applicability.
A token system involves earning tokens for positive behaviors, which can later be exchanged for rewards. For instance, you might give a sticker for each completed homework assignment, and once they collect five stickers, they can choose a prize like a small toy or an extra 10 minutes of screen time. This approach builds consistency and motivation over time.
Errorless learning minimizes frustration by providing immediate guidance to ensure success. For instance, if teaching your child to match colors, you might initially place only one option in front of them, making it impossible to choose incorrectly. Over time, you gradually increase difficulty as they gain confidence.
FCT replaces problematic behaviors with appropriate communication methods. For example, if your child screams when they want a snack, FCT teaches them to use a word, sign, or picture card to express their need instead. This method reduces frustration and gives your child tools to communicate effectively.
Schedules, social stories, and charts provide clear visual cues to help your child understand routines and expectations. For example, a picture schedule of morning tasks (brushing teeth, getting dressed, eating breakfast) can help your child stay on track without constant verbal reminders. Visual supports are especially helpful for transitions, like moving from playtime to dinnertime.
Teaching your child to monitor and regulate their own behavior fosters independence. For instance, using a checklist to track completed chores or a timer to manage screen time helps your child take ownership of their responsibilities. With guidance, self-management can become a powerful tool for building autonomy.
These ABA techniques are powerful tools for supporting your child’s development in communication, social skills, and independence. By integrating them into your daily routine, you can reinforce positive behaviors and create opportunities for learning and growth.
At Kiwi Kids ABA, we’re dedicated to helping families in the Denver area and beyond to build brighter futures. If you’re ready to learn more about how our home-based ABA therapy services can benefit your child, we’d love to hear from you. Call us today, and let’s work together to support your child’s journey toward success!
Our team of experienced therapists is dedicated to helping children with autism and other developmental disabilities reach their full potential. We are committed to creating a supportive and nurturing environment where every child can thrive.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can support your child's development.